Base marking apparatus



May 26, 1953 H. c. ATKINS ETAL 2,639,661

BASE MARKING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l T124. Invervtovs:

A Harm; C. A bkins, g AW /a Hevman EHermanson,

b awe-0 W Their A b lsornea.

May 26, 1953 H. c. ATKINS ETAL 2,639,661

- BASE MARKING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnven tors Harry C. A tkins, Hevman E. Herma son,

b8 WC'KW- Their- A t tovneg.

Patented May 26, 1953 BASE MARKING APPARATUS Harry G. Atkins, University Heights, and Herman E. Hermanson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,448

Claims.

This invention relates generally to the printing or marking of round objects whose size is small relative to the characters desired to be impressed thereon. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus for automatically printing identifying characters on the cylindrical portions of miniature electric lamps, such as their bases, and which is adaptable to operate in conjunction with automatic lamp-making machinery.

The great majority of lamps manufactured for widespread commercial usage at the present time, are made by means of automatic lamp-making machinery, generally of the indexing type. In such machines, manufacturing operations are performed upon the lamps at spaced work stations, the lamps being advanced or indexed from one position to the next by means of suitable conveyor systems which operate in a series of intermittent or discontinuous steps. For instance, the lamps may be held in suitable holders mounted on the periphery of a rotary turret, and the manufacturing operations may be performed by mechanical operators surrounding the turret and adapted to move radially inward upon the lamps when they are indexed to predetermined angular positions.

In order for a lamp marking or printing apparatus to be successful from the point of view of the economics of lamp manufacturing by mass production methods, it must be capable of operating in conjunction with such lamp-making machinery.

It will be realized, of course, that it is necessary to print or mark characters on electric lamps in order to identify them as to wattage and rating, and generally as to the maker. In the case of the larger lamps, such markings have generally been applied, for instance to the curved exterior surface of the base, by means of printing members or templates having a curvature conforming to that of the portion whereon it is desired to impress the printing. For instance, the printing member may have a crescent shape and may be adapted to swing upon the base of the lamp during the period of time when the lamp is indexed at a predetermined printing station. Although such a method is perfectly satisfactory when the curvature of the surface is moderate or, in other words when the printing covers only a fraction of the periphery of a cylindrical base, it is however not feasible when the print ing must cover substantially the whole periphery of the base. In the case of miniature incandescent lamps such, for instance, as are used in flashlights, the printed characters must cover substantially the whole periphery of the base in order to be legible; and, under these circumstances, experience has shown that it is not practical to use curved printing members.

Accordingly, it is an object of our invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for applying characters of substantial size around the periphery of objects having a comparatively high degree of curvature.

Another object of our invention is to provide a mechanism for printing identifying characters on the periphery of an electric lamp of small size wherein the characters must cover a substantial portion of the curved periphery of the lamps.

Still a further object of our invention is to provide a mechanism for printing characters on the bases of electric lamps which is adapted to operate in conjunction with lamp-making machinery of the automatic indexing type.

In accordance with our invention, the characters are printed on the lamp by rolling it against a flat stamp suitably inked for the purpose. A preferred embodiment of our apparatus is adapted to operate in conjunction with a miniature lamp finishing machine of the indexing type. The inking stamp is mounted on one of a pair of arms which are carried in a pair of swiveling slides supported on a reciprocating cross head. The mechanism is adapted to allow the arms to move in and grasp a lamp by the base while it still rests in a head or lamp holder of a finishing machine, the graspin of the lamp being achieved by the swiveling action of the arms. Thereafter, the arm carrying the inked rubber stamp moves or slides with respect to the other arm thereby rolling the base on the stamp and marking the characters on the metal surface of the base. Further motion of the arms is adapted to drop the lamp from the mechanism into a suitable chute or conveyor tube for inspection and packing.

For further objects and advantages and for a better understanding of the invention, attention is now directed to the following description and accompanying drawings. The features of the invention believed to be novel will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a miniature electric lamp printing mechanism embodying a preferred form of our invention. The mechanism is shown positioned for operating on a lamp held in a suitable holder, such as may be carried on the rotary turret of a lamp finishing machine, and indexed in the position shown in the drawing.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view of the mechanism with portions cut away for simplifying the illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through '4 Both the arms I and II are adapted to pivot with their guides I2 and I3 with respect to the cross-head I4. The arms are also adapted to slide with respect to the guides. The sliding one of the arms of the machine along the section 5 movement of arm In with respect to its guide I2 line III-III.

Fig. l is;-a--.cross-se ctiqnal view. through the. machine along the line -IVIV and showing the 1 arrangement of the arms in the swiveling slides mounted on the reciprocating cross head.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V illustrating certain details ofJtheL-inking mechanism for applying ink to the stamp car: ried by one of the arms.

in the slide.

provides one of the essential steps in the operationiofithe.mechanism.,. The other-arm I I, is normally; locked in its guide'l3 byrmeans .of the screw 24 which engages it through the slot 25 This arrangement permits adjusting the extension of arm I I from the slide I3, looth 'offlwhich' may thereafter be locked together byfltightening. the. screw 24. A helical spring 25 exerts aIorceon-th'e slides I2 and I3 which tends s- 6a, b, c, d, e, a d f are s pl fieid ae ama .to pivotthem together and bring the arms l0 and of the main elements of the mechanism, as seen in plan similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the sequence of operations in a printing cycles Referring to Fig. 1, the base printing machine II into parallelism-.1v However, the effect of the spring 26in pivoting the slides I2 and I3 togethenmay be-prevented by a latch comprising thee-notched lever 21 which is pivoted on guide is shown in position for operating on a miniature I3 t 23 i h fashion th t the not h may enincandescent lamp, I ,whichis resiliently held in a holder .2 such as may be mountedon ..a rotary turret. machine .and indexed to successive positions. The holder ,2 ,wouldthus travel along are.

gage-the, screw 29 ,on llide. I2, thereby holding the two guides apart- When the cross-head I I movesiorward to.,its. fully extended position, ,a. stop..3ll engageshthe lever. 21' andunlatches it,

arcs andstop at theposition shown in the draw- -..th b 1l win the arms .to pivot together.

ing for a predeterminedinterval of. time during, which the printing.mechanismperforms its intended operation upon. the lamp. Thelamp is held base up in the holder; between ,a pair of Themannerinwhicharm I0 is adaptedto slide within. its. guide I2 maybe .more readilyiunderstood. by referringto .Figs. land-4..v The arm. I.

is rectangular-in cross sectionand'is machined pr n p hand. between? p=fingeli5 and a 3QwtQ'fi/ slidingfit .withinthe guide .I2'.. A ..cylindrispring loaded spindle Ii, asseenin Fig. 2... The. machine is provided with means for dropping the spindle 8 at any desiredstationinorder to facilir. tate the removal of-thelampwfrom the holder.

The printing mechanism, proper; comprises a 5.

pair of rod-like armsI 0 and I I whichare mount-. ed in slides 12 antle -I3,respectively, these slides being adapted. torswivelwith. respect ,to a mount or cross-head I4-as may :more readily be seen ca1.hole.3I is bored longitudinally. within the arm ldthroughout a: substantial length thereotbe:

in Fig. 2. Theslides I2 landv I3 .are restrained the central-bore within it. The-compressioni-of by means of spur gears I 5 and IBaffixed to their rearward sides I about 'their respective. pivoting axes and adapted -to meshin such fashion that the slides are-constrained to swivel-by equal degrees-eachon ODDOs-itesides :ofrthe center line of the cross-head I 4.:

Thecross-head I4-is adapted forsliding movement one pair of parallel guides I1 and I8. The guides are pivoted at. I9 :to the-bed frame 20 of the m h n as y r dily. e n uide members 11 andwIBfor engagingrtherear.

Fig.2. This permits a;slight adjustment of the plane of the armsina-yertical direction-inorder to permitthem -to engage the lamp I at the proper elevation onrits baseu the. :helical spring .32 withinqthearm normally. forces it back .with respectto theslide to lapointwhere thewpin. 34 ;engages ..the forwardend-of theslot :35. The smaller spring 38 in the slide ;I2..is-for the .purpose. of rpivoting the-notched lever 2'! forward so that its notched portionnore mally. engages-the yscrew- 29 (and restrainsthe springZS from pivoting the slides together:

Azpair of rollers 31. and 38 are mountedon the ends,;of-'the arms I0 and;'II and securing the operation of the mechanism in the following manner; The "stop-roller ;3I is -adapted toengage the rear end of armr-IIJ andprevent further The cross 'head I4 mey'be a fi r rearwardmotion by. causing it to slide within cating'motion by a suitable linkage connected-to the Wrist pin 2 I. Inorderto-simplify the illustration of the mechanism-andto facilitate an understanding of its operation-the means shown hereinhave'been reduced'to'a simple connecting link 22 to which a handle 23 is fastened-for manual operation. It will be understood that; whereas it is possible to operate this automatic printing mechanism manually at astation of a lamp finishing machine, ina preferred application; a

mechanical linkage is provided to.impart asreciprocating motion to the cross+headduringthe indexing interval of the lamp finishingmachine. Such a motion may beprovided by means of a connecting rod linking the wrist pin'2l to one the slider-housing I2 when the cross-head Id is moved back. edto engage the rear inclined edge 39 of arm I I near. the limit'of rearward travel-of the crossheadin-order tolcauseithe arm-I I along with the slide I3ttopivot into the open position.

The arm Ill carriesat its forward-end a pair. of

rollersl I mounted on the periphery of. an imagi nary circle such that the rimsxof therolle'rs provide a pair of bearing points for the base of the lamp I.' Ifdesired, the rollers 4| may be of miniature ball 'bearing type for facilitating the rotation of the lamp I when held between the arms. The longitudinally adjustable plate -42 provides a means for securing a fine adjustment of the position of'the arm-'IlTin'its maximum rearwardly retracted position. Thearm -II carriesat its forward end a serrated-gripping plate or'jaw whose function isito bear against one side-of the base :0f the lampJ ingorder to press it The other stop roller, 38,. is adapt I I I I against the rollers 4| and cause it to spin during the sliding action of the arm. The gripping plate 43 is resiliently mounted with respect to the arm H by means of the springs 44 and it may be adjusted as to position by means of the thumb nuts 45. A printing stamp 46 consisting of a strip of molded flexible material such as rubber and having the printing characters embossed thereon is attached to a lever 41 pivoted at the point 48 on the arm II. The lever itself may more readily be seen in Fig. 2. The lever is resiliently fixed with respect to the arm I l by means of the small helical spring 49 and adjusted as to position by means of the thumb nut 5|.

It is necessary to provide some means for inking the printing stamp at a suitable time during a cycle of operation of the mechanism. For this purpose, there is provided a pivotable inking pad 53 which is carried on a cross-head 54 slidably mounted with respect to a pair of guides 55, these guides being fixed on a frame 56 in a horizontal plane and substantially at right angles with respect to the main bed plate of the machine 2! The arrangement of the cross-head and guides may be seen in cross section in Fig. 5. The inking pad 53 is pivoted on the shaft 51 fixed to the cross-head 54 at its forward end and is normally held flat on top of the cross-head by means of a biasing spring 58 as may more readily be seen in Fig. 2. The cross head 54 carries behind the inking pad 53 a circular disc 59 constituting a platen for receiving ink which may be dripped onto it or applied at suitable intervals by an operator. An inking roller 6| rides on the top surface of the cross-head 54 and is secured to the frame 56 by means of pivoting links 62. The roller is normally pulled down on the top surface of the cross-head or, more properly, on either the inking pad 53 or the disc platen 59 by means of a pair of helical springs 53. The inking pad 53 has a pin 64 projecting out to the side from a crank 55 at its forward end, which pin is adapted to engage a stop 65 on the bed plate 20 of the machine when the cross-head 54 moves forward. The engagement of pin 64 by the stop 66 causes the inking pad 53 to pivot forward into a vertical position and strike the printing stamp 46 carried by the arm II. The transfer of ink from the disc platen 59 to the inking pad 53 is achieved by the roller 6! which rolls across first one and then the other during the reciprocating movement of the cross-head 54. Also, the reciprocating movement of the cross-head causes a step by step mm.

tion of the platen 59 by reason of the engagement chine of the indexing type commonly employed I in the lamp manufacturing industry.

Mounted below the guide members 56 supporting the cross-head 54 is a chute 69 adapted to receive the lamps after they are dropped upon the opening of the arms l0 and l I.

The operation of the printing mechanismduring a complete cycle will now be explained with reference to Figs. 60-6 In Fig. 6a, the mechanism is shown its position of rest with the arms outswiveled and held in that position by reason of the notch in the lever 21 engaging the screw 29. The mechanism remains in this position of rest during the indexing period of the lamp finishing machine, and during this interval of time the inking pad 53 transfers ink to the printing stamp 46. This is achieved by a single forward reciprocation of the cross head 54.

After the completion of the inking operation and the indexing of a lamp at the printing station, the printing mechanism begins its cycle of operation by a forward movement of the crosshead M. This results in the arms advancing to the position shown in Fig. 6??) wherein the arms I encompass the lamp and are located on opposite sides of the lamp l in the fully extended position. It will be noted that in Fig. 6b the locking lever 2'! is at the point of engaging the stop 30.

In Fig. 6c, the stop 30 has disengaged the looking lever 21 and unlatched the slides so that the arms have pivoted. together and gripped the lamp by the base. The cross-head I4 now reverses its direction of movement and moves the arms back without any relative movement between them up to the point where the arm Ill strikes the stop roller 31, as shown in Fig. 6d. At this point, the arm I!) ceases to move with the cross-head and remains in position, sliding meanwhile with respect to its slide or guide member [2 by reason of the compression of the helical spring 32 within the bore of the arm. The arm I I, on the other hand, continues to move back with the cross head, and the serrated gripping plate 53 causes the lamp to roll or spin between the two arms. During the rolling operation, the printing stamp below the serrated gripping plate transfers the inked characters to the base of the lamp.

When the cross-head M has moved back to the position shown in Fig. Be, the rear inclined edge of arm II is just on the point of striking the stop roller 33. At this point, the arms begin to pivot along with their slides and the lamp is released by the gripping plate and falls into the chute 69. The cross-head continues to move back as illustrated in Fig. 6 thereby forcing the arms and the slides to pivot farther apart until the locking lever 21 engages the pin 29 so that the arms are thereafter held in the open or outswiveled position. The cycle of operation ends when the arms have returned to the position shown in Fig. 6a. The machine is then ready for a repetition of the operation of the inking pad, and thereafter the printing cycle may be repeated in the same manner as has just been described.

lt ugh the machine has been described in detail as to its component parts, it will be understood that such detail is for the purpose of illustration and not in order to restrict the invention thereto. It will also be realized that the mechanism is essentially adapted for automatic operation and that Whereas hand levers for manual operation have been shown in the drawings and described in the specification, in a preferred application suitable linkages for achieving automatic operation are provided. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover any such modifications coming within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for marking characters on the periphery of round objects periodically presented at a work station, comprising a pair of arms carrying gripping means at their forward encased-1 ends means sfor rslidingi; said, arms-gforward-atoe wards said stationsto ."encompassrsaid: object ron.

opposite" sides, means: 'for actuating said arms while soradvanced in order to close-said grippin means upon said object, meansfor causing said armstoslide one withwrespect:to.the other m order; torollsaid object therebetween and a marking stamp carriedbyoneofsaid. arms and located: to. contact saidwobject andimpresspsaid characters thereon during the "rolling 7 thereof.

thercbetween andsa rmarking-stamp. carried by oneof said armsland locatedto contact said Ohject and impress said characters thereon during therollingof said object.

6. Apparatus for marking characters onth I periphery ofcylindrical objects periodically pre- 2. Apparatus for marking characters on the means, and a -marking stamp carried byone:

of: said arms s andnlocated to contact said object.

and impress said characters thereon during the.

rolling thereof.

3.. Apparatus .for marking characters on the periphery of round objects periodically presented at a work station, comprising a pairof arms carrying grippingimeans at their forward ends,- means for sliding said arms forward toward said station to-encompass-said-object on: opposite sides, means for causing said arms llOISWlVGl' to- I gether-while so advanced order-to close said gripping means, upon saidnobject, means for causing said arms to slide'one with respect- 130 th'e' other inorder to roll said object-therebetween, anda marking stamp-carried.byonesof said arms and located to contact saidrobject and impress said characters thereon during the rolling thereof.

l. Apparatus. for markingcharacters onethe periphery of round objects periodically presented in; constant alignment at 'aework'station, come prising a pair .of rod-like arms, a mount for said armsallowing lthem to swivel together andalso to slide one withrespect tothe other, means for. advancing said mount. toward said station with, saidarms swiveled apart to encompasssaid object-2onopposite-sides; meansnfor causing said. arms toswiveltogether while so advancedrin ,or-

derxto grinsaid object, meansforcausing. said arms to slide one with respect to the-othernn. order to roll said object therebetween, and: a

marking stamp carried by voneiof said arms and located toxcontact said object and impresssaid holding saidarms inside-by-side disposition and:

allowing them to swivel together and alsonto slide one with respect to the other, spring means forcing said arms together and a latch normally restraining them apart, means. for ads. vancing said mount toward saidstationwhereby. to'causesaid armsto encompass said object on opposite sides, a stop adapted-to release said.

latch anduallowlsaid arms to swivel together whileso advanced inorder to grip said object, means for causing .said armsutouslidecne with respectoto the :othen indordernto ,rollssaid, ,object sented-v in constant alignmentat a work station, comprising a'pair of-rod-like arms, a mount for. holding said-.arms inside-by-side disposition in :a plane "normal-Ito the longitudinal axis through said: objects at said workstation; said mount allowingsaid arms P to swivel cooperatively together in'saidplaneand also to slide one with. respect to thesother, meansfor swiveling Saidarmsr apart after retrogression of said mount,

said-mount being adapted. to advance toward said'zstationwith said arms swiveled apart tov enoompass 'said objectcn opposite sides, means for'causing said-arms to swivel together while;- usaid mount isr-advanced in order to grip said object, means for-causing said arms-to slide one with respect tothecther during subsequent retrogressionofsaid mount in order to roll saidobject therebetween, and a marking stamp car- -ried-byone of-said: arms and located to contact: said: object and v impress said charactersthereon during the rolling thereof.

7. Apparatus formarking characters ontheperiphery of the cylindrical bases of electricaldevices periodically presented in constant alignment at aiworklstation', comprising a pair of rodlikearms, a pair of swiveling slidesmounted on across head for supporting said arms insideby-sidedisposition in a aplane normal to the longitudinal axis of said devices atsaid work station, intermeshing teeth portions on respective ones ofsaid slides for causing them to pivot equally and-oppositely together with respect to said. cross head-"whereby to bring said arms to-- gether at one end, said slides being also adapted toallowsone-of said arms to slide with respect to the other, spring means tendingto swivel said arms together, means for swiveling said arms apart after retrogression of said cross head away .fromsaid-station, a latch for-locking said arms I in outswiveled relationship during advance of saidcross headtoward-said station whereby to allow said: arms to encompass said device-on opposite sides,-a.stop=forreleasing said latch while said-cross head is so advanced in order to permit said arms to swivel-together and grip said device, stops means for causing said arms to slide one with respect to the other during retrogres- 1 sionof said cross head from said advanced posivtionz whereby to roll said device between said arms, and a markingstampcarried by one of said arms and-located to contact said device andimpress said characters thereon during the rolling of said object.

8; Apparatus for marking characters on the bases of electric lamps periodically presented in constant alignmentat a workstation, comprising a pair ot-rod-likearms, one of said arms carryingagripping-plate at its forward end and the other a-pair of rollers, a pair of swivelingslidcs mounted-on a-cross head forsupporting said arms in side-by-sidedisposition in a plane normallto the longitudinalaxis of saidlamps at said work vstation, interineshing. teeth portions on respective ones of saidslides for'causing them to pivot equally and oppositely together with respect-to said-cross head whereby to bring said arms together-attheir forward ends, said slides being also adapted .toallow said-other arm to slide a respect: to, said. cross-head. springs means tending to swivel said arms together, means for swiveling said arms apart after retrogression of said cross head away from said station, a latch for locking said arms in out swiveled relationship during advance of said cross head toward said station thereby to allow said arms to encompass said lamp on opposite sides, a stop for releasing said latch while said cross head is so advanced in order to permit said arms to swivel together and grip said lamp between said gripping plate and said rollers, stop means for causing said other arm to slide with respect to said cross head during its retrogression from said advanced position whereby to roll said lamp between said gripping plate and said rollers, and a marking stamp carried by said one arm next to said gripping plate and located to contact the base of said device and impress said characters thereon during the rolling of said object.

9. Apparatus for printing characters on the bases of electric lamps periodically presented in constant alignment at a work station, comprising a pair of rod-like arms, a pair of swiveling slides carried on a slidable cross head for holding said arms in side-by-side disposition in a plane normal to the axis of said lamp, intermeshing teeth portions on respective ones of said slides for causing them to swivel equally and oppositely with respect to said cross head, spring means tending to swivel said slides together, means forcing said slides to swivel apart after retrogression of said cross head away from said station, a latch locking said slides in outswiveled position during advance of said cross head toward said station whereby to allow said arms to encompass said lamp on opposite sides, means for unlocking said latch at the limit of advance of said cross head whereby to swivel said arms together to grip said lamp, stop means for causing one of said arms to slide with respect to the other whereby to roll said lamp therebetween, a printing stamp carried by one of said arms and located to contact the base of said lamp and print said characters thereon during the rolling thereof, and means for inking said stamp during intervals between operations of said cross head.

10. Apparatus for printing characters on the bases of electric lamps periodically presented in constant alignment at a work station, comprising a pair of rod-like arms, one of said arms carrying a gripping plate at its forward end and the other a pair of rollers, a pair of swiveling slides carried on a slidable cross head for holding said arms in side-by-side disposition in a plane normal to the axis of said lamp, intermeshing teeth portions on respective ones of said slides for causing them to swivel equally and oppositely with respect to said cross head, said slides being also adapted to allow said other arm to slide with respect to said cross head, spring means tending to swivel said slides together whereby to bring said arms together at their forward ends, means forcing said slides to swivel apart after retrogression of said cross head away from said station, aklatch locking said slides in outswiveled position during advance of said cross head toward said station whereby to allow said arms to encompasssaid lamp on opposite sides, a stop for releasing said latch at the limit of advance of said cross head whereby to permit said arms to swingtogether and grip said lamp between said gripping plate and said rollers, stop-means for causing said one arm to slide with respect to said cross head during its retrogression from said advanced position whereby to roll said lamp between said gripping plate and said rollers, a printing stamp carried by said one arm and located to contact the base of said lamp and print said characters thereon during the rolling thereof, and means for inking said stamp during intervals between operations of said cross head.

HARRY C. ATKINS.

HERMAN E. HERMANSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,821,337 Friedlaender Sept. 1, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 808,449 France Nov. 14, 1936 463,365 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1937 

